[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 133 (Wednesday, September 16, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6700-S6701]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. ENZI (for himself and Mr. Barrasso):
  S. 2039. A bill to designate the mountain at the Devils Tower 
National Monument, Wyoming, as Devils Tower, and for other purposes; to 
the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, I wish to speak on the introduction of 
legislation which designates the mountain and populated place at Devils 
Tower National Monument as Devils Tower. This is legislation I am 
introducing today with the support of Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming 
and in conjunction with Representative Cynthia Lummis who is 
introducing this same measure in the House.
  Devils Tower National Monument is not an ordinary national treasure. 
There are approximately 117 national monuments, but Devils Tower has 
the distinction as being America's first national monument. Established 
by President Theodore Roosevelt on September 24, 1906, Devils Tower 
National Monument preserves the unique geologic, cultural, and 
aesthetic values of this breathtaking feature.
  Devils Tower has a rich cultural history, and has many meanings to 
different cultures, including the many peoples and Native American 
tribes that have historical and geographic ties to Northeastern 
Wyoming. The Geographic Names Information System, GNIS, prepared by the 
U.S. Geological Survey, USGS, acknowledges there are sixteen documented 
variant names to Devils Tower. Documents submitted to the U.S. Board on 
Geographic Names cite approximately 94 different published names for 
Devils Tower. Meanwhile, official Federal records indicate the name 
Devils Tower has existed for over 130 years.
  This is why I am glad there was an opportunity for public comment and 
debate on the most recent petition to rename Devils Tower. The results 
of that 5 month public comment period demonstrated there is strong 
support from the community and local officials to retain the Devils 
Tower name for the geologic feature, the populated place, and the 
National Monument.
  Now that there has been an opportunity to hear comments about the 
most recent petition to rename Devils Tower, the Wyoming congressional 
delegation is introducing this legislation to preserve the Devils Tower 
name for the feature, populated place, and for America's first national 
monument. We also encourage the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, U.S. 
Department of Interior, and the President to suspend any additional 
consideration on the petition to rename the features at Devils Tower 
National Monument.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a letter of support be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                                      Crook County


                                       Board of Commissioners,

                                 Sundance, WY, September 11, 2015.

       In 1868, the Wyoming Territory was created. In 1885, Crook 
     County was created. In 1890, the Territory of Wyoming 
     obtained statehood. In 1906, the first national monument, 
     Devils Tower, was established. The United States was the 
     first country in the world to set aside its most significant 
     places

[[Page S6701]]

     as national park units so they could be enjoyed by all.
       Over the centuries, many people have passed through or have 
     inhabited the region now known as Crook County. The many 
     Native American tribes who were in the area called the summit 
     different names over time. By establishing the summit and the 
     surrounding grounds as Devils Tower National Monument, the 
     decision was made as to its official name.
       The Crook County Commission would like to submit comments 
     from the public it began to solicit since March 2015. A 
     survey was developed and was inserted in the local 
     newspapers, put on Crook County's website and each 
     Commissioner hand delivered comment sheets throughout the 
     county to the area businesses and town halls. We received 
     comments from within the County and from around the world. As 
     of August 3, 2015, we have received 954 comments about the 
     summit: 34 approve the name change and 886 oppose the name 
     change. For changing the name of the settlement called Devils 
     Tower, we received 953 comments: 37 for the name change and 
     855 against it.
       Crook County citizens believe the Tower is special. There 
     is evidence that organized gatherings have taken place at the 
     Tower since the first recorded climb of the Tower July 4, 
     1893. Citizens urged State and Federal officials to recognize 
     the importance of this landmark and pressed for improved 
     roads to the Tower in the early 1900's. Since then, the Tower 
     has been the site of numerous weddings, reunions, picnics, 
     school outings and other important life events. Always, the 
     Tower has been referred to with reverence. It is always 
     called ``Devils Tower'' or ``the Tower''. We are not aware of 
     any pet name or slang references used by local citizens. One 
     definition of the word, ``sacred'', in Webster's Dictionary 
     means ``worthy of respect''. By that definition, Devils Tower 
     is sacred.
       If the name is changed to ``Bear Lodge'', it will diminish 
     the uniqueness of the site. This special place deserves more 
     than a generic name. There is already the Bear Lodge 
     Mountains east of the Monument. There is a rare earths mine 
     being built in the Bear Lodge Mountains called the Bear Lodge 
     Project. There is Bear Butte in Meade County, SD which is 
     reportedly a sacred site to some Native Americans. By having 
     so many places with ``Bear'' already in its name, it creates 
     confusion for the over 400,000 annual visitors who come 
     specifically to northeast Wyoming to see Devils Tower.
       Records show the name Devils Tower has existed officially 
     for over 130 years. In the Bureau of Land Management 
     Cadastral Survey Land Plats dated August 24, 1883, it is 
     indicated that the summit was named Devils Tower. This is 
     based upon field notes from 1881 and 1882. Those field notes 
     dated July 23, 1883 state ``A prominent land mark is a high 
     peak in Section 7 called Devils Tower''.
       Today is not the time to debate whether the site is sacred 
     to some tribes or not. Anecdotal evidence exists that some 
     tribes did avoid the area due to the ``bad gods''. Please see 
     some of the comments submitted. For example, the Campstool 
     Ranch was established by Lady Grace Esme MacKenzie in 1881. 
     ``The location of the ranch near the base of Devils Tower was 
     chosen not due to its scenery but because the Native 
     Americans were scared of it and would not go near it''. This 
     was in 1881. The Battle of the Little Bighorn was June 1876 
     and the Indian Wars continued until 1918.
       We do not believe that all elders, leaders and individual 
     tribal members find the name of the summit highly offensive, 
     insulting, etc., as stated in the petition. There is an 
     organization called Devils Tower Sacred to Many People whose 
     mailing address is Devils Tower, Wyoming which owns land near 
     the Tower. This federally recognized non-profit exists to 
     benefit the Native Americans who live on reservations. The 
     international monetary supports this organization receives 
     show many people recognize the name Devils Tower. The Native 
     artists who sell their wares to the organization recognize 
     the name also and support their efforts.
       We do not believe the summit was given its name purposely 
     due to white people finding cultural and faith traditions 
     practiced by Native Americans ``evil''. It was the name 
     commonly used by the people who lived in the area. That is 
     why one name was chosen for the summit and for the National 
     Monument. Many tribes have their own historic name for the 
     Tower. The United States Board on Geographic Names Case Brief 
     cites approximately 94 different published names for Devils 
     Tower. We do not believe that over twenty tribes who have 
     potential cultural affiliation with the Tower have reached a 
     consensus to support the proposal of one name for the summit. 
     We believe each tribe will continue to use their traditional 
     name for the Tower and Wyoming natives will do the same. 
     Devils Tower has always been open to anyone to use as a 
     respectful place to carry on their own traditions and we 
     expect it to remain that way. The Tower can be shared by all.
       The Crook County Commission questions what significant or 
     historic benefit will be advanced by changing the name of the 
     summit located at Devils Tower National Monument? Will the 
     name change proposed by the petitioners benefit many, just a 
     few, or will it cause more dissention? Therefore: We request 
     the Wyoming Board on Geographic Names and the United States 
     Board on Geographic Names retain the name of the summit as 
     Devils Tower.
       We question why the settlement of Devils Tower is being 
     petitioned for change. There is a United States Post Office 
     there and we have not received a recommendation from the USPS 
     for a name change. Records show that particular Post Office 
     has been in existence since 1925. Reading some of the 
     comments we received from our Wyoming natives, we ask ``How 
     can people who do not even live in the area propose a name 
     change to a populated place?'' Numerous comments from the 
     people who have Devils Tower as their mailing address mention 
     the unnecessary distress of changing the name of their 
     business and changing their address on passports, official 
     documents and just receiving mail and packages.
       Crook County received 855 comments to retain the name of 
     the settlement of Devils Tower. Again we ask: what 
     significant or historic benefit will be advanced by changing 
     the name of the settlement? A name change should be proposed 
     by the citizens it would most affect. Therefore, we request 
     the name of the settlement be retained as Devils Tower, 
     Wyoming.
           Sincerely,
     Kelly B. Dennis,
       Chairman.
     Jeanne A. Whalen,
       Vice-Chairwoman.
     Steve J. Stahla,
       Member.
                                 ______